Ex-Saint Jamie Gleeson boosts Eastleigh's title hopes

AN ex-Saint brought a huge ray of sunshine to another washout weekend for title hopefuls Eastleigh.

With the Spitfires’ trip to Tonbridge Angels postponed following Friday night’s severe storms, their hearts must have sunk when league leaders Bromley’s game at rock-bottom Dorchester Town got the go-ahead in the Skrill Conference South.

Already with an 11-point gap to make up on the Kent table-toppers, Eastleigh could have been looking at a 14-point chasm come 4.50pm on Saturday – albeit with four games in hand.

But, against the odds, Dorchester recovered from the blow of letting a two-goal lead slip at the Avenue Stadium to stun Bromley with a dramatic 90th-minute winner from former Saints trainee Jamie Gleeson.

It means that Eastleigh who, weather permitting, will now visit Tonbridge this evening (7.45), have their championship fate back in their own hands.

An amazing game at Dorchester swung 2-0 in the Magpies’ favour when Nathan Craig and Ashley Yeoman each scored on their debut having only signed on loan from Torquay United the previous day.

With eight minutes remaining Jay May gave the visitors hope by halving the deficit and it looked like last-gasp heartbreak for the Magpies when substitute Louis Dennis curled home to make it 2-2.

But just when victory looked beyond Dorchester, AFC Bournemouth loanee Charlie Losasso’s slide rule pass was met by 29-year-old David Beckham look-a-like Gleeson who knocked the stuffing out of Bromley with a sweeping finish.

Dorchester’s dramatic finale was not such good news for Gosport Borough, however.

The three points hoisted Phil Simkin’s Magpies up to 21st spot, dumping Borough bottom of the table.

The all-Hampshire FA Trophy semi-final between Havant & Waterlooville and Gosport was postponed on Saturday and has been rearranged for Westleigh Park tonight (Monday, 7.45pm). Fans can pay at the gate but are being urged to arrive early as a large crowd is expected.